After the meeting, Dare walked out with his brothers, Rebel, Hyde, and Ezra. He hated keeping anything from Billie. She’d grown up in a Dark Knights family, and she understood that he couldn’t talk about club business, but that didn’t make it any easier.
“Damn, that poor girl,” Doc said.
“That’s a hefty dose of perspective, right there,” Ezra said.
“No shit,” Rebel agreed.
“Yeah, while we’re dicking around wondering what girl is going to land in our beds tonight, that poor girl’s scared for her life.” Hyde shook his head.
“Kind of like any girl who ends up in your bed,” Rebel said as they pushed through the doors and walked outside, doing just as they were told. Going back to business as usual.
The guys chuckled, but those sounds were heavier, weighed down by their new reality as they shifted gears from club business to upbeat campaign hosts.
Dare scanned the grounds, needing to get his arms around Billie. It didn’t matter that there were hundreds of people milling around the property. He was drawn to his girl like lightning to the ground and headed for Birdie’s table, where Billie was talking to their sisters.
“Where are you heading?” Doc asked.
“To the one person who can put a smile on my face.” He looked at Cowboy. His eyes were hooded, and he looked like he was ready to spit nails. “Dude, you okay?”
Cowboy nodded.
“Better get that look off your face, or you’ll scare off the women around here,” Doc said.
“Right.” Cowboy rolled his shoulders back and cleared his throat. “Better?”
Dare took in his forced smile. “Now you just look like you’ve got a wedgie.”
“Maybe I do,” Cowboy said with a laugh. “Asshole.”
BILLIE WAS EATING chocolate with the girls by Birdie’s table, trying to listen to Gus go on about all the fun things he did today between bites of his enormous pony pop, but she was sidetracked, worrying about whatever the Dark Knights were up to.
“There’s Daddy!” Gus shouted.
She saw Dare and the guys come through the crowd. His eyes locked on her, and she tried to send a silent question. Is everything okay? He nodded and winked, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Dad! Sasha gave me a whole lotta sugar!” Gus waved his pony pop, and the guys chuckled.
Ezra looked at Sasha, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
She laughed and splayed her hands palms up. “What can I say? I have a thing for curly topped little boys.”
“How about well-hung big boys?” Hyde waggled his brows. “I’d like some sugar.”
“Sasha’s saving her sugar for my dad!” Gus yelled. “Right, Sasha?”
The girls burst into hysterics.
Sasha covered her face with one hand, pulled the chocolate pop she’d saved for Ezra out of her pocket, and smacked it against Ezra’s chest. “Enjoy.”
“You guys, come over here.” Birdie ran around corralling the men closer to the table. “Hot guys always bring more single moms and kids. Just stand there and look approachable and talk about how sweet the chocolate is.”
“Let’s see how sweet it is.” Dare hauled Billie into his arms, his dark eyes and coy smile promised all sorts of dirty things.
She held up her chocolate pop. “Want a taste?”
“Hell yeah, I do.” He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her so long and deep, she came away tingling from head to toe.
“Come on, Bobbie, let’s show them how it’s done.” Cowboy draped an arm over her shoulders. “Go ahead, offer me some chocolate.”
Bobbie held up her chocolate pop, and everyone laughed.
“Oh my gosh. Why didn’t I think of you two?” Birdie let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re perfect together.”
“Birdie, I was kidding. Bobbie’s as much of a sister to me as you are. I actually wanted the chocolate.” Cowboy took a big bite of Bobbie’s chocolate.
“Yeah, Birdie. He’s not my type, anyway,” Bobbie said. “He’s too bulky.”
“Bet he’s never heard that before,” Dare said for Billie’s ears only.
“Lucky for me, you’re bulky in all the right places,” she whispered, earning another delicious kiss.
“Are you freaking kidding me? This isn’t bulk.” Cowboy lifted his shirt. “These are perfectly defined muscles.”
Bobbie’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head.
“Put that shit away, Cowboy.” Rebel swaggered over. “She’s into guys who can rock the boat, not blow it out of the water.” He put his arm around Bobbie. “Right, babe?”
Bobbie rolled her eyes, wiggling out of his reach, earning more laughter.
“Good, that means I haven’t been wasting my time scoping out single moms for Cowboy,” Birdie said. “See the brunette with the little girl by the ponies? She was at the top of my list. She’s a nurse and is super nice.”
“I suddenly feel an ache coming on. I think I might need someone to give me a rubdown.” Doc cocked a grin, heading in the brunette’s direction. “See you kids later.”
Birdie rolled her eyes. “Why do you let him do that, Cowboy? She was perfect for you, and you know Doc will date her for a few weeks and break her heart.”
“Do yourself a favor, Bird. Take me off your marriage list,” Cowboy said. “I’m going to be busy for the foreseeable future anyway.”
“But—”
He glowered at her.
“Fine.” A mischievous grin curved her lips. “Are you at least using that body wash I gave you, because women don’t like guys who stink.”
“Yeah. I love that shit. I’ve got to get Sunshine back to the barn. Catch you guys later.”
As Cowboy walked away, Birdie rubbed her hands together. “Perfect.”
Dare pulled Billie closer. “Think I should warn him?”
“And ruin Birdie’s fun?” She put her arms around his neck. “I can think of better things for you to do with that mouth of yours.”
“Careful, baby. Keep talking like that and I’ll haul your pretty little ass into the hayloft and make good on all those things.”
She shuddered with anticipation. “You can’t. There are kids playing in there.” She went up on her toes and whispered, “But I hear the tack rooms have locks on the doors…”